Maddy summaryHB 1680 creates a new "oral preventive assistant" license in Washington, allowing trained professionals to perform specific preventive dental services under a dentist's supervision. It directly affects dental practices and patients seeking routine care by expanding who can provide services like cleanings (prophylaxis) and basic gum checks (periodontal probing) for patients with healthy mouths. The bill establishes training requirements, defines the scope of allowable tasks (such as dental assisting duties and non-invasive procedures), and mandates that dentists verify assistants' competency before assigning tasks. This aims to increase access to preventive dental care by adding a new tier of dental support staff, while maintaining dentist oversight for complex procedures.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 1335 adds "military spouse status" to Washington's anti-discrimination law, making it illegal for employers to discriminate against military spouses in hiring, firing, or employment conditions. The bill explicitly includes military spouses as a protected class under existing laws that prohibit discrimination based on race, gender, disability, and other factors. It amends Washington’s civil rights statute (RCW 49.60) to guarantee military spouses the right to "obtain and hold employment without discrimination" and provides legal recourse for violations. This change directly affects military spouses in Washington and all employers covered by the state’s anti-discrimination law.
Maddy summaryHB 1456 aims to address Washington state's law enforcement staffing crisis by modifying policies to support current officers and attract new recruits. The bill restores civil liability protections for officers acting within training and agency policies during job duties, directs a media campaign to promote law enforcement appreciation, and allows officers to receive honoraria for campus presentations on criminal justice. It also updates use-of-force standards to require de-escalation tactics, consider vulnerable populations (like minors or those with disabilities), and limit deadly force to immediate threats. The bill directly affects all Washington law enforcement officers and agencies, targeting the state's low officer-to-resident ratio (1.35 per 1,000 in 2023) amid rising crime rates.
Maddy summaryHB 1092 modifies Washington state law to clarify when children may be removed from homes due to safety concerns. It expands grounds for removal to include un-prescribed use of strong opioids or other Schedule I/II drugs while caring for a child, and requires courts to prioritize health/safety during removal decisions. The bill mandates a shelter care hearing within 72 hours (excluding weekends/holidays) to determine if a child can safely return home, and requires courts to ensure parents receive notice of their rights and access to legal counsel. It also requires efforts to place children with relatives before long-term shelter care and specifies that parental waiver of hearings must be fully informed.
Maddy summaryHB 1344 adds respite care to Washington's "basic plus waiver" program, allowing people with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their primary caregivers to access respite care funding more easily. The bill requires the state to seek federal approval to include respite care as an "aggregate service" (meaning funds can be used flexibly without extra approval after annual hours are exhausted), with respite care limited to 30% of the waiver's aggregate budget. It directly affects individuals relying on waiver services for community living and their unpaid caregivers, who often need breaks to maintain their own well-being. The state must submit a federal waiver amendment by September 1, 2025, and update the program upon federal approval. This changes how existing waiver funds can be used for respite care, not creating new funding.
Maddy summaryHB 1438 sets strict time limits for Washington cities and counties to approve housing permit applications, requiring final decisions within 65 days for simple permits, 100 days for those needing public notice, and 170 days for projects requiring public hearings. If deadlines are missed, local governments must refund 10-20% of permit fees based on how long they exceed the timeline. The law applies specifically to housing projects in urban growth areas with residential units and excludes certain permit types or planning processes. It aims to streamline housing development by creating predictable, enforceable review timelines for local governments.
Maddy summaryHB 1307 would remove Washington state sales and use tax on diapers and essential child care products starting January 1, 2026. The bill specifically exempts items like car seats, baby clothing (size 5T and smaller), incontinence products for infants and adults, baby monitors, strollers, and other products designed for children under five. It defines "essential child care products" to include items commonly recognized as necessary for infant and toddler care, as well as products for adults needing incontinence supplies. This tax exemption directly affects families with young children and caregivers of vulnerable adults who face high costs for these essentials. The policy aims to reduce financial strain without altering existing tax rates for other goods.
Maddy summaryHB 1354 amends Washington state law to explicitly include temporary legislative session employees under the public employees' benefits board insurance programs. It clarifies that "employee" definitions now cover these temporary staff members (e.g., aides or support personnel hired specifically for legislative sessions), ensuring they receive the same health insurance benefits as other state employees. The bill makes this change through targeted amendments to existing statutes (RCW 41.05.011 and 41.05.065), without creating new benefits or altering coverage terms. This is a procedural clarification affecting only temporary legislative staff, not elected officials or permanent employees.
Maddy summaryHB 1074 amends Washington State law to exclude individuals convicted of hit-and-run offenses resulting in death (under RCW 46.52.020(4)(a)) from eligibility for first-time offender waivers. This change directly affects people convicted of such hit-and-run cases, preventing them from accessing the alternative sentencing program available to other first-time felony offenders. The bill adds this specific offense to the list of disqualifying crimes in RCW 9.94A.650, ensuring these offenders must face standard sentencing without the waiver option.
Maddy summaryHB 1091 amends Washington state law to prevent certain offenders sentenced as sexually violent predators from earning supervision compliance credit. Specifically, it removes eligibility for this credit for individuals sentenced under statutes related to sexually violent offenses (RCW 9.94A.507, 650, 655, 660, or 670) or subject to specific supervision types (RCW 9.94A.745 or community custody under RCW 9.94A.730). The bill does not change the credit system itself but explicitly excludes these offenders from accruing the standard 10 days of credit per compliant month. This affects individuals serving sentences under the specified laws who are under community supervision. The change aligns with existing eligibility restrictions but codifies them more directly in the statute.